Things to do and people to see

Now the fun begins. This past week Ivan and I found much to do in the outside world. We visited the Early Years Centre, a free drop-in facility run by the City, and every Monday there is a two hour long program for just mothers and babies. There must have been fourteen pairs of mothers and young ones entertaining one another. Ivan quite enjoyed ‘circle time’ where songs are sung, puppets are presented and other gentle instruments are used in the circle, like rattles and drumsticks. All eyes were on him as he was smiling and laughing the whole way threw the performance. Note here that ever since he was weeks old, people had commented on how ‘alert’ he appeared to be. Of course there is a drawback to his sense of awareness: once he becomes over-stimulated his mind is on overdrive and he ends up crying desperately later on in the day. Other mothers have suggested placing a loose blanket over his eyes but he won’t have it. He insists on seeing what is going on at all times. Besides, I’m inclined not to look like the crazy mother who puts a cover over her baby's face.
Numerous play dates were scheduled over the previous week leaving me little time to enter more news on his blog. He seems to relish in the company of others and, as a bonus for me, at the end of the tarriance his fatigue and leads to a nap, giving me time for a nap or to prepare dinner. Hmmm, sleep or food, sleep or food, what will it be?
Towards the end of the week we made an attempt to go to the wading pool. Special diapers are needed for such an activity, ones that don’t absorb water the same way as normal disposables.*
I put a hat on Ivan’s head, slathered him with organic sunscreen and off we went to the local pool. To our dismay, the water was the temperature of millions of melted ice cubes. These pools are drained at closing time and refilled in the morning with a hose. We’ll seek out an indoor pool next time.
All in all we can say that every day was a fresh experience for us, be it a new visitor, new bustle or new enterprise. That’s the way summers should be.

*Yes, 'disposables' dear readers, and I have no shame on the subject. Show me a mother who can spend the last hour of her exhausting every day cleaning feces off of cloth and I’ll offer you a bag of granola and give you a gold star. Hey, we compost in our household and recycle too so I am concerned about the environment but I’m also concerned about my sanity.